Bits & Pieces

Austin had equine therapy on Friday. They decided to let him try riding. He LOVED every minute of it. My MIL has pictures and video. I can’t wait to see it. I think riding will be great for “centering” him and working on core strength.

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How can Austin drink 8 oz of water and NOT manage to swallow one itty bitty pill at the same time? Anyone have any ideas to help me?

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Halloween costumes are complete after hitting up 4 different Halloween stores. Note to self: DO NOT wait until the last minute next year. One place even had parking attendants and security!

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I might have to change this to the Smith Family Renovations blog. The one bathroom we hadn’t updated decided it was missing out. The toilet started leaking, soaking the floor and subfloor and leaking into the family room down below. We’ll be gutting that bathroom starting this week. Not fun at all!!

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Jeff and I had some nice one on one time with Ben this weekend. I think with Austin and Connor’s needs he kind of gets lost in the shuffle occasionally. But we had fun and that kid is a character!

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Thank God for Facebook. I am friends with the writers of most of the blogs I read. If not for FB, I would have no clue what’s happening with them. I haven’t really read blogs in so long. Just too darn busy around here!

10 Responses

busy busy…thanks for the update…as for the pills…I use apple sauce, ice cream or yogurt…makes it earier to hide and they don’t know where the pill is 🙂

We used applesauce for the longest time (to the point he’ll no longer eat applesauce!), but I figured at age 8 he could learn to swallow. The pill is tiny, about the size of a birth control pill. There should be no reason he can’t just swallow it! ~~Jen

I am so SOOOO happy that the equine therapy is working for Austin. Do you have any idea HOW happy I am? 🙂
Please keep spreading the word. Therapy Dogs, Llama Therapy, Equine Therapy…..those animals have something that can’t be provided in conventional ways.

Also, sounds like giving Austin a pill is like giving a cat a pill. Bummer.

VERY much like giving a cat a pill except Austin doesn’t scratch or bite me 🙂

I read for heavier pills, while swallowing the water, to put your head back so the pill falls to the back of the throat … and with lighter pills you put your head down as the pill floats to the top and down your throat … or that could be reversed. Regardless, have him put his head back when he swallows. My Mom put the pill in the back of my throat first, nearly causing me to gag, and THEN had me swallow water. Just the possibility of gagging had me learning to swallow pills. She also crushed my pills in apple sauce. 25 years later I can eat apple sauce again without tasting the pill. I would not suggest crushing the pill in food if you intend for your child to eat that food regularly, without the pill.

Adrianne

My concern is he does tend to gag it down and I freak that one of the times he’s either going to vomit (he’s spit the water out before) or it’s going to go into his lungs. Perhaps that’s impossible, I don’t know, but I still worry. ~~Jen

For the pill swallowing maybe you should give this product a try: http://www.oralflo.com/ I know the troy Price Chopper pharmacy has something on the counter about swallowing pills but I don’t remember what it is. I tried searching for it and found the oralflo, they say it can be used with kids.

We have a straw that is supposed to be similar but just him knowing it’s there is enough. I just can’t figure out how he can swallow the water and NOT the pill! ~~Jen

Your pill dilemma, a pill is a foreign object. Based on its size it becomes a harder to learn how to open your throat. I was one of those children who was on liquids or chewable tablets (no joke) until 18. My family tried everything. Paying me to learn, to M&M’s. You name it it was tried. It was not until I was faced with the daunting task choosing between 25 chewable tablets or just 3 tablets. I realized it was time. I learned very quickly. Keep in mind I always had a hard time at the dentist too. Even at 30 plus, the size of the pill matters to whether I can swallow it or not.

I learned to put my throat all the way back and let the pill slide back with the water and the pill followed the throat. It takes time to learn. Be careful giving the pill to Austin in things he likes. It may backfire on you.

We bought and watched the Horse DVD about the boy and his Equine experiences. That was not an easy watch. I couldn’t actually watch it all, I’m still not over The Road yet. I need to get a few Star Wars movies in before I am cleansed enough to handle the raw emotional stuff.